Editing Calumet City, Illinois

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name               = Calumet City, Illinois
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = <!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in Illinois|City]]
| image_skyline      = Water_tower_with_smiley_in_Calumet_City,_Illinois.jpg
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = One of the two smiley face water towers in Calumet City
| image_flag         = 
| flag_alt           = 
| image_seal         = Calumetcityseal.jpg
| seal_alt           = 
| image_shield       = 
| shield_alt         = 
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| image_map          = File:Cook County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Calumet City Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 260px
| map_caption        = Location of Calumet City in Cook County, Illinois.
| pushpin_map        = United States Chicago Greater #Illinois#USA
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Calumet City in Greater Chicago Area##Location of Calumet City in Illinois##Location of Calumet City in the USA
| pushpin_label      = Calumet City
| coordinates        = {{coord|41|36|51|N|87|32|47|W|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint      = 
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{US}}
| subdivision_type1  = State
| subdivision_type2  = [[County (United States)|County]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Civil township|Township]]
| subdivision_name1  = Illinois
| subdivision_name2  = [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Thornton Township, Cook County, Illinois|Thornton]]
| established_title  = Incorporated (Village)
| established_date   = February 13, 1893<br />''(as West Hammond)''<ref name="incorp">{{cite web
|url=http://calumetcity.org/history-2/
|title=Calumet City History
|access-date=2016-03-14
|publisher=City of Calumet City, Illinois}}</ref>
| established_title1 = Incorporated (City)
| established_date1  = 1924<br />''(as Calumet City)''<ref name="congress-1968-06-06">{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=1968 |title=United States of America Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 90th Congress Second Session |publisher=United States Government Printing Office |pages=16332–16333 |quote=1924{{mdash}}West Hammond changed its name to Calumet City.}}</ref><ref name=Centennial>(1993). "Calumet City Centennial Celebration". Illinois: Centennial History Committee.</ref><ref name="enke-2007-284">{{cite book |last=Enke |first=Anne |date=2007 |title=Finding the Movement: Sexuality, Contested Space, and Feminist Activism |location=Durham, NC |publisher=Duke University Press |page=284 |isbn=978-0822340836 |quote=Until 1924, Calumet City was known as West Hammond, Illinois. Separated from Hammond, Indiana, by State Line Road, saloons and brothels settled on the Illinois side before, during, and after Prohibition.}}</ref>
| founder            = 
| seat_type          = 
| seat               = 
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = Council-Mayor
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[Thaddeus Jones (politician)|Thaddeus Jones]] (D)
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_17.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 15, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| area_total_sq_mi   = 7.32
| area_total_acre    = 
| area_land_sq_mi    = 7.20
| area_land_acre     = 
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.12
| area_water_acre    = 
| area_water_percent = 1.64
| area_urban_sq_mi   = 
| area_urban_acre    = 
| area_rural_sq_mi   = 
| area_rural_acre    = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| area_metro_acre    = 
| area_rank          = 
| area_blank1_title  = 
| area_blank1_sq_mi  = 
| area_blank1_acre   = 
| area_blank2_title  = <!-- square miles -->
| area_blank2_sq_mi  = <!-- acres -->
| area_blank2_acre   = 
| area_note          = 
| dimensions_footnotes = 
| length_mi          = 
| width_mi           = 
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_ft       = 
| population_total   = 36033
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 5005.97
| population_demonym = 
| population_note    = 
| demographics_type1 = Standard of living ([[American Community Survey|2009-11]])
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1 = [[Per capita income]]
| timezone1          = 
| utc_offset1        = 
| timezone1_DST      = 
| utc_offset1_DST    = 
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code|<span style="white-space:nowrap;">ZIP code(s)</span>]]
| postal_code        = 60409
| area_code          = 708
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|<span style="white-space:nowrap;">Area code(s)</span>]]
| geocode            = {{FIPS|17|10487}}
| iso_code           = 
| website            = {{URL|www.calumetcity.org}}
| footnotes          = <!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| area_urban_footnotes = <!-- <ref> </re> -->
| area_rural_footnotes = <!-- <ref> </re> -->
| area_metro_footnotes = <!-- <ref> </re> -->
| demographics1_info1 = $20,390
| demographics1_title2 = [[Real estate appraisal|Median home value]]
| demographics1_info2 = $121,900
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 17-10487
| area_total_km2     = 18.96
| area_land_km2      = 18.64
| area_water_km2     = 0.32
| population_density_km2 = 1932.85
}}

'''Calumet City''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|k|æ|lj|ʊ|ˈ|m|ɛ|t}} {{respell|KAL|yuu|MET}}) is a city in [[Cook County, Illinois]], United States. The population was 36,033 at the 2020 census.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Calumet City city, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1710487|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=February 23, 2021}}</ref> It is part of the [[Chicago metropolitan area]].

==Etymology==
The word ''Calumet'' is the [[Miꞌkmaq]] and [[French language|French]] word for a [[Ceremonial pipe]] as used by Native Americans.

==History==
Calumet City (commonly referred to locally as "Cal City") was founded in 1893 when the villages of Schrumville and Sobieski Park merged under the name of West Hammond, since it lies on the west side of the Illinois-[[Indiana]] line from [[Hammond, Indiana]].<ref name="incorp"/>

In 1916, when alcohol was prohibited in [[Indiana]], West Hammond became a preferred location for drinkers coming from northwest Indiana.<ref name="keating-2008-120">{{cite book |last1=Keating |first1=Ann Durkin |title=Chicago Neighborhoods and Suburbs: A Historical Guide |date=2008 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |location=Chicago, IL |isbn=978-0226428833 |pages=120–121}}</ref> [[Rum-running|Bootlegger]]s including [[Al Capone]] built on this basis once the [[Prohibition in the United States|Prohibition era]] arrived, and West Hammond gained the nickname of "[[Sin City (description)|Sin City]]".<ref name="keating-2008-120"/>

West Hammond became known for illegal alcohol consumption, [[gambling]], and [[prostitution]].<ref name="keating-2008-120"/> In 1923, residents wishing to rid the city of its reputation voted to change the name from West Hammond to Calumet City.<ref name="keating-2008-120"/><ref name=Centennial/>

[[Frankie LaPorte|Frank LaPorte]] is believed to have been the member of the [[Chicago Outfit]] who was most responsible for developing and maintaining the "Sin Strip" area of Calumet City.<ref name="lombardo-2013-183">{{cite book |last1=Lombardo |first1=Robert M. |title=Organized Crime in Chicago: Beyond the Mafia |date=2013 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=978-0252094484 |pages=183–184}}</ref> Police avoided Sin Strip and risked violence if they tried to make an arrest.<ref name="enquirer-1962-06-17">{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=1962-06-17 |title=Glitter Fades: Calumet City's Sin Strip Loses to Suburban Respectability |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/46584091/calumet_city_1962/ |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |access-date=2023-09-06 |quote=Everything was on sale in 'Sin Strip' and policemen stayed away from the row. Any officer who tried to make an arrest was generally asking for a beating up.}}</ref>

In 1959, the state of Illinois conducted a [[police raid]] that resulted in 98 arrests and the seizure of business records.<ref name="luzi-2012-79">{{cite book |last1=Luzi |first1=Matthew J. |title=The Boys in Chicago Heights: The Forgotten Crew of the Chicago Outfit |date=2012 |publisher=The History Press |location=Charleston, SC |isbn=978-1609497330 |page=79}}</ref> An article published in ''[[Chicago Daily News]]'' on June 2, 1959, exposed LaPorte as being instrumental in the illegal activities in Calumet City.<ref name="luzi-2012-79"/>

In 1995, the city began demolishing bars and taverns in the "Sin Strip" area.<ref name="tribune-1995-07-18">{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=1995-07-18 |title=Redemption is Near for Calumet City's 'Sin Strip' |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-07-18-9507180124-story.html |work=Chicago Tribune |location=Chicago, IL |access-date=2023-09-02}}</ref><ref name="tribune-1995-09-12">{{cite news |last1=Penn |first1=Mary Sue |date=1995-09-12 |title=City Levels Tavern in 'Sin Strip' Area |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-09-12-9509120122-story.html |work=Chicago Tribune |location=Chicago, IL |access-date=2023-09-02}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Calumet City has a total area of {{convert|7.32|sqmi|km2|2}}, of which {{convert|7.20|sqmi|km2|2}} (or 98.31%) is land and {{convert|0.12|sqmi|km2|2}} (or 1.69%) is water.<ref name="gaz2021">{{Cite web   |title=Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=Census.gov}}</ref>

===Surrounding areas===
In addition to being bordered to the east by Hammond, it is also bordered by [[Burnham, Illinois|Burnham]] and [[Chicago]] to the north, [[Lansing, Illinois|Lansing]] to the south, and [[South Holland, Illinois|South Holland]] and [[Dolton, Illinois|Dolton]] to the west.

<div style= width:500px;">
:{{pad|12em}} [[Chicago]] / [[Burnham, Illinois|Burnham]]
:{{pad|10em}} [[Dolton, Illinois|Dolton]] [[Image:Up arrow left.svg|20px]] [[Image:Up-1.svg|30px]] [[Image:Up arrow right.svg|20px]] [[Hammond, Indiana|Hammond]]
:{{pad|2.5em}} [[Dolton, Illinois|Dolton]] / [[South Holland, Illinois|South Holland]] [[Image:Left.svg|30px]] {{pad|1.5em}}[[Image:Right.svg|30px]] [[Hammond, Indiana|Hammond]]
:{{pad|6.7em}} [[South Holland, Illinois|South Holland]] [[Image:Down arrow left.svg|20px]] [[Image:Down arrow.svg|30px]] [[Image:Down arrow right.svg|20px]] [[Munster, Indiana|Munster]]
:{{pad|14em}} [[Lansing, Illinois|Lansing]]
</div>

==Demographics==

{{US Census population
|1900= 2935
|1910= 4948
|1920= 7492
|1930= 12298
|1940= 13241
|1950= 15799
|1960= 25000
|1970= 32956
|1980= 39697
|1990= 37840
|2000= 39071
|2010= 37042
|2020= 36033
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br /> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1710487 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> there were 36,033 people, 14,166 households, and 8,607 families residing in the city. The population density was {{Convert|4,921.20|PD/sqmi|PD/km2}}. There were 16,196 housing units at an average density of {{Convert|2,211.96|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 72.64% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 9.74% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.65% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.19% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 10.44% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 6.30% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 17.97% of the population.

There were 14,166 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.65% were married couples living together, 26.42% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.24% were non-families. 36.79% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.38 and the average family size was 2.56.

The city's age distribution consisted of 23.5% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 26% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $50,640, and the median income for a family was $55,612. Males had a median income of $34,474 versus $32,079 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $23,688. About 15.9% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 29.6% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Calumet City, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 1980<ref name=1980Census>{{Cite web|title=1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois- Table 14 - Persons by Race and Table 16 (p. 18-28) - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race (p. 29-39)|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_ilAB-03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|page=}}</ref>
!Pop 1990<ref name=1990Census>{{Cite web|title=1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Orogin|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-2/cp-2-15-1.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Calumet City, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=1600000US1710487&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Calumet City, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US1710487&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Calumet City, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US1710487&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau ]]|access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!% 1980
!% 1990
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|35,587
|26,246
|13,421
|4,928
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,676
|89.65%
|69.36%
|34.35%
|13.30%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.43%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|2,321
|8,920
|20,530
|25,888
|style='background: #ffffe6; |25,959
|5.85%
|23.57%
|52.55%
|69.89%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |72.04%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|53 <ref>Compiliation of American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut categories</ref>
|40
|47
|58
|style='background: #ffffe6; |51
|0.13%
|0.11%
|0.12%
|0.16%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.14%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|178 <ref>Compiliation of Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Asian Indian, and Vietnamese categories. Other Asian groups would be included in the Some Other Race category</ref>
|220
|205
|108
|style='background: #ffffe6; |50
|0.45%
|0.58%
|0.52%
|0.29%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.14%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|1 <ref>Compiliation of Hawaiian, Guamanian, and Samoan categories. Other Pacific Islander groups would be included in the Some Other Race category</ref>
|6 <ref>Derived from extracting Pacific Islander population from Asian population</ref>
|16
|7 
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4
|0.00%
|0.02%
|0.04%
|0.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.01%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|36 <ref>Calculated as the difference between the total population and all other categories</ref>
|28
|31
|31
|style='background: #ffffe6; |116
|0.09%
|0.07%
|0.08%
|0.08%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.32%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
| x <ref>Not an option in the 1980 Census</ref>
| x <ref>Not an option in the 1990 Census</ref>
|579
|448
|style='background: #ffffe6; |701
|x
|x
|1.48%
|1.21%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.95%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,521 <ref>Listed as Spanish origin in the 1980 Census. Racial identification for Hispanics only consisted of White, Black, and Some Other Race; hence, a small number of Latinos may be also be included in the counts for Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islander</ref>
|2,380
|4,242
|5,574
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6,476
|3.83%
|6.29%
|10.86%
|15.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |17.97%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''39,697'''
|'''37,840'''
|'''39,071'''
|'''37,042'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''36,033'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

==Arts and culture==
A landmark and point of pride among Cal City residents is the pair of large water towers painted like the popular "Have a Nice Day" smiley faces which are located on Ring Road near River Oaks Mall, the other State Street near [[Interstate 94]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.calumetcity.org/water/h2owelcome.html | title=The Smiley Towers | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927031818/http://www.calumetcity.org/water/h2otowerhistory.html | archive-date=2011-09-27 }}</ref>

==Government==
Calumet City has a Mayor-Council type government.

The city has 7 Wards.

Calumet City is in [[Illinois's 2nd congressional district]].

The mayor of Calumet City is currently [[Thaddeus Jones (politician)|Thaddeus Jones]]. He has served as Mayor since being elected to the office in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Office of the Mayor|url=https://calumetcity.org/office-of-the-mayor/|access-date=2020-12-20|website=The City of Calumet City}}</ref>

===Mayors of Calumet City===
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=60% align="left"
|-
! style="background:#F5DEB3"| <small>Mayors of Calumet City, Illinois</small>
|-
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Image
! Mayor
! Years
! Notes
|- style="height:2em"
|-
|
| 1893 – ?
| 
|
|-
|
| K. M. Wosczynski
| ? – April 1915
|
|-
|
| Paul M. Kamradt
| April 1915 – March 1925
| Defeated incumbent mayor K. M. Wosczynski in March 1915 primary election in West Hammond (name change to Calumet City in 1923)<ref>{{Cite news|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title=Hammond's Mayor Loses |newspaper=[[Freeport Daily Bulletin]]|date=March 10, 1915 |url= https://newspapers.com/article/freeport-daily-bulletin/137314759/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><br> Defeated Martin Finneran in April 1915 general election.<ref>{{Cite news|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title=West Hammond takze mialo wczoraj wybory   |newspaper=[[Dziennik Chicagoski]]|language= Polish|date=April 21, 1915 |url=https://newspapers.com/article/dziennik-chicagoski/137315097/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><br> Grandfather of mayor Robert Stefaniak<ref name=Flux/> 
|-
|
| John W. Jaranowski
| March 1925 – April 1935
| Defeated Paul M. Kamradt in the general election on March 11, 1925<ref>{{Cite news|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title=Jaranowski Wins Election   |newspaper=[[The Chicago Tribune ]]|date=March 11, 1925 |url=https://newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/137314376/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref name=Spirited>{{Cite news|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= Spirited Races Bring Out Heavy Vote In Villages  |newspaper=[[The Chicago Tribune ]]|date= April 16, 1941|url=https://newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/137313234/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
|-
|
| William F. Zick
| April 1935 – April 1941 
| Defeated John Jaranowski in April 1935 general election<ref>{{Cite news|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= Mayors of Four towns in Cook County Beaten  |newspaper=[[The Chicago Tribune]]|date=April 17, 1935 |url= |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><br> Lost to Jaranowski in April 1941 general election<ref name=Spirited/>
|-
|
| John W. Jaranowski<br> (2nd term)
| April 1941 – April 1945
| Previously served as mayor from 1925 to 1935<ref name=Spirited/> Lost in reelection bid in April 1945<ref name=Name>{{Cite news|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title=  Illinois Cities Name Officials, Vote On Issues |newspaper=[[The Decatur Daily Review ]]|date=April 18, 1945 |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-decatur-daily-review/137313536/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
|-
|
| Frank L. Kaminski
| April 1945 – April 1953 
| Defeated John W. Jaranowski in April 1945<ref name=Name/>
|-
|
| Stanley E. Bejger
| April 1953 – April 1961
| Son-in-law of former mayor John Jaranowski<ref>{{Cite news|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= Calumet City Voters Elect Reform mayor  |newspaper=[[The Chicago Tribune]]|date=April 22, 1953 |url=https://newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/137311897/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><br> Choose to not run for reelection in 1961<ref>{{Cite news|first= Paul|last= West|authorlink=   |title= Vote April 18 in Calumet and Lansing  |newspaper=[[The Chicago Tribune]]|date=April 9, 1961 |url=https://newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/137312418/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Joseph W. Nowak, mayor of Calumet City.jpg|75px]] 
| Joseph W. Nowak
| April 1961 – January 28, 1972
| First elected in April 1961.<ref name=Flux/><ref>{{cite news |last1= Bing|first1= J. Edward |title= Calumet City Mayor To Pick Zone Board|url=https://newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/137296329/ |newspaper=[[The Chicago Tribune]] |date= September 1, 1961|pages=[https://newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/137296329/ B1], [https://newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/137296502/ B4] |accessdate= |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><br> Resigned on January 28, 1972 <ref>{{cite news |last1= Hallahan|first1= Kathleen |title=Breclaw Sets Sights On Permanent Mayoral Seat |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-daily-calumet/137295564/ |newspaper=[[The Daily Calumet]] |date= February 2, 1972|pages=[https://newspapers.com/article/the-daily-calumet/137295564/ 1], [https://newspapers.com/article/the-daily-calumet/137295705/ 3] |accessdate= |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> after being sentenced to three years in prison for embezzlement<ref name=Gaines/>
|-
|
| Herbert Breclaw
|  January 31, 1972 – June 1972
| Named interim mayor on January 31, 1972
|-
| [[File:Robert C. Stefaniak, mayor of Calumet City, illinois.jpg|75px]]
| Robert Stefaniak
| June 1972 – 1993
| First elected in a special election held on June 6, 1972, to complete the remaining 10 months of former mayor Joseph W. Nowak's term.<ref name=Gaines>{{Cite news|first= William|last=Gaines |title=Stefaniak New Mayor in Cal City |newspaper=[[The Chicago Tribune]]|date=June 7, 1992 |url=https://newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/137293080/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref name=Flux>{{Cite news|first=William |last=Gaines |title= Stefaniak Sensitive to Flux, Stability |newspaper=[[The Chicago Tribune]]|date= June 15, 1972|url= https://newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/137293569/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><br>Won in the general election in April 1973<ref>{{Cite news|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= Incumbent mayor Stefanial Defeats 2 in Cal City race |newspaper=[[The Daily Calumet]]|date=April 19, 1973 |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-daily-calumet/137294873/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><br> Choose to not run for reelection in 1993.<ref>{{Cite news|first1=Jerry |last1=Shnay |first2=Janita |last2=Poe |title= Oak Lawn Bucks Anti-Incumbert Drive |newspaper=[[The Chicago Tribune]]|date=April 21, 1993 |url=https://newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/137292681/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
|-
|
| Jerome "Jerry" Genova
| 1993 – October 2001
| Resigned in October 2001 after being indicted<ref name=Garrison>{{Cite web|first= |last= |title=Garrison v. Calumet City, Illinois  |website=casetext.com|date= July 20, 2006 |url=https://casetext.com/case/garrison-v-calumet-city |accessdate=}}</ref>
|-
| 
| Dominick Gigliotti 
| October 2001 – April 2003
| Appointed to fill out the remainder of the term of Jerry Genova until a special election was held in April 2003<ref name=Garrison/>
|-
|
| Greg Skubisz
| April 2003 – September 2003
| Elected by 24 votes over Michelle Markiewicz Qualkinbush in a special election held in April 2003. Sworn into office. Overturned on appeal on September 2, 2003, by Circuit Court Judge Michael Murphy who threw out 38 absentee ballots that he determined to have been illegally cast for Skubisz and eliminated about 50 other contested ballots resulting in Markiewicz Qualkinbush winning the election by 27 votes.<ref>{{Cite news|first= |last= |title= Calumet City gets new mayor |newspaper=[[The Chicago Tribune ]]|date= September 3, 2003|url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-09-03-0309030184-story.html}}</ref>
|-
|
| [[Michelle Markiewicz Qualkinbush]]
| 2003–2021
|
|-
|
| [[Thaddeus Jones (politician)|Thaddeus Jones]]
| 2021–Present
| First African American mayor
|-
|}
|}
{{clear}}

==Education==
Calumet City is served by several elementary school districts:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.calumetcity.org/links.html |title=Calumet City :: Illinois |access-date=2006-11-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061014180638/http://www.calumetcity.org/links.html |archive-date=2006-10-14 }}</ref>
*[[Calumet City School District 155]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calumetcity155.org/|title=Welcome to Calumet City School District 155 in Calumet City, IL|website=www.calumetcity155.org|access-date=28 March 2018}}</ref>
**Woodrow Wilson Memorial School
**Wentworth Intermediate School
**Wentworth Jr. High School
*[[Dolton School District 149]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schooldistrict149.org/|title=School District 149|website=www.schooldistrict149.org|access-date=28 March 2018}}</ref>
**Berger Vandenberg School
**Carol Moseley Braun School
**Caroline Sibley School
**Dirksen Middle School
*[[Lincoln Elementary School District 156]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.l156.org/|title=Lincoln Elementary School District 156|website=Lincoln Elementary School District 156|access-date=28 March 2018}}</ref>
**Lincoln Elementary School
*[[Hoover-Schrum Memorial School District No. 157]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hsdist157.org/|title=Home - Hoover-Schrum Memorial School District 157|website=www.hsdist157.org|access-date=28 March 2018}}</ref>
**Hoover Elementary School
**Schrum Memorial Middle School

The city is served by two high school districts:
*[[Thornton Township High School District 205]] (west of Torrence Avenue)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.district205.net/|title=Thornton Township High Schools District 205 / Overview|website=www.district205.net|access-date=28 March 2018}}</ref>
**[[Thornwood High School]]
*[[Thornton Fractional High School District 215]] (east of Torrence Avenue)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tfd215.org/|title=Thornton Fractional High School District #215|website=www.tfd215.org|access-date=28 March 2018}}</ref>
**[[Thornton Fractional North High School]]

==Transportation==
[[Pace (transit)|Pace]] provides bus service on multiple routes connecting Calumet City to destinations across the [[Chicago Southland|Southland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rtachicago.org/uploads/files/general/RTA-System-Map.pdf|title=RTA System Map|access-date=January 30, 2024}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
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*[[Calboy]], American [[rapper]] who rose to fame in 2018.
* [[Joseph F. Fanta]] (1914–1988), member of the [[Illinois House of Representatives]] from 1957 to 1963 and 1965–1967. He was a childhood resident of Calumet City.<ref name="Trib Obit">{{cite news|last=Heise|first=Kenan|title=Joseph F. Fanta, 74, Former State Legislator|date=May 6, 1988|access-date=January 6, 2024|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1988-05-06-8803140834-story.html|quote=Mr. Fanta, a native of Calumet City, graduated from Lane Technical High School and attended Northwestern University}}</ref>
* [[Arline M. Fantin]] (b. 1937), Illinois state representative. She resided in Calumet City while a representative.<ref>'Illinois Blue Book 1997-1998,' Biographical Sketch of Arline M. Fantin, pg. 85</ref>
* [[Frank Giglio]] (b. 1933), Illinois state representative. He resided in Calumet City while a representative.<ref>'Illinois Blue Book 1993-1994,' Biographical Sketch of Frank Giglio, pg. 80</ref>
* [[John Jurkovic]] (b. 1967), defensive lineman for several [[NFL]] teams; radio host at [[WMVP|ESPN Radio 1000]]<ref>{{Cite web| title = John Jurkovic| publisher = Football Database.com| year = 2011| url = http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JURKOJOH01| access-date = 11 May 2011| quote = High School: Thornton Fractional North (Calumet City, IL)| url-status = usurped| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111122091624/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JURKOJOH01| archive-date = 22 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Citation| last = Foltman| first = Bob| title = WMVP shuffles afternoon lineup: Low ratings cost Simonson-Canellis| newspaper = Chicago Tribune| date = 3 May 2001| url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/05/03/wmvp-shuffles-afternoon-lineup/| access-date =11 May 2011| quote = Jurkovic, who played with the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars before retiring in 1999, was voted the NFL's funniest player in a Sport Magazine poll in 1998. He is a Calumet City native and a graduate of Thornton Fractional North High School.}}</ref>
* [[Mirko Jurkovic]] (1970–2013), former offensive guard for the [[Chicago Bears]] and All-American at the [[University of Notre Dame]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/jurkovic_mirko00.html |title=Mirko Jurkovic |author=anonymous |date=n.d. |publisher=[[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame Athletics]] |access-date=1 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222110021/http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/jurkovic_mirko00.html |archive-date=22 December 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Alan Keyes]] (b. 1950), conservative political activist and [[perennial candidate]]. Keyes moved from [[Maryland]] to Calumet City to establish residency after being drafted by the [[Illinois Republican Party]] to run against [[Barack Obama]] in the [[2004 United States Senate election in Illinois|2004 United States Senate election]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ford|first1=Liam|last2=Mendell|first2=David|title=Keyes sets up house in Cal City|date=August 13, 2004|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=February 5, 2022|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-0408130201aug13-story.html}}</ref>
* [[Gene Krupa]] (1909–1973), jazz drummer, buried in Holy Cross Cemetery
* [[José Olivarez]], poet, author of Citizen Illegal and Promises of Gold. Editor of The Breakbeat Poets Volume 4: LatiNext.
* [[DJ Rashad]] (1979–2014), Chicago house music producer
* [[Mike Tomczak]] (b. 1962), quarterback for several [[NFL]] teams, including the [[1985 Chicago Bears season|1985 Chicago Bears]] [[Super Bowl]] champions<ref>{{Citation| last = Hamnik| first = Al| title = Cal City's Tomczak won't ever forget 'miracle' ride| newspaper = Northwest Indiana Times| date = 11 September 2010| url = http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/columnists/al-hamnik/article_f618ae7f-44e6-5dea-a7ab-eb3be0a8cf68.html| access-date =11 May 2011| quote = They had accepted Tomczak, the rookie, and occasionally he was allowed to play among them.  "It was a miracle ride for me," the T.F. North grad and former Ohio State star said.}}</ref><ref>{{Citation| last1 = Myslenski| first1 = Skip| last2 = Kay| first2 = Linda| title = Planning ahead: Mike Tomczak reached inside the breast...| newspaper = Chicago Tribune| date = 17 September 1986| url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/09/17/planning-ahead-mike-tomczak-reached-inside-the/| access-date =11 May 2011| quote = Both Jo Ann and Ron Tomczak, who coached Mike at Thornton Fractional North, dashed the theory that their son had a case of the jitters Sunday.}}</ref>
* [[Steve Wojciechowski (baseball)|Steve Wojciechowski]] (b. 1970), former pitcher for the [[Oakland Athletics]]
* [[Tink (musician)|Tink]] (b. 1995), singer-songwriter
* [[Tim Walberg]] (b. 1951), member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from [[Michigan]]. His family moved from Chicago to Calumet City and he attended [[Thornton Fractional Township North High School]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=w000798|title = Bioguide Search}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2022}}
Calumet City is featured or mentioned in a number of major movies. [[John Belushi]]'s "Joliet Jake" and [[Dan Aykroyd]]'s "Elwood" characters from ''[[The Blues Brothers (film)|The Blues Brothers]]'' were born in Calumet City, and so is the orphanage they grew up in, which they save "on a mission from God" by paying $5,000 in property taxes from a $10,000 record deal at their concert, as well as "Ray's Music Exchange" that holds the famed [[Ray Charles]] "Shake Your Tail-Feather" scene of the movie. In the book and film ''[[The Silence of the Lambs (film)|The Silence of the Lambs]]'', [[Buffalo Bill (character)|Buffalo Bill]] is thought to be hiding in Calumet City, when he is actually in [[Belvedere, Ohio]]. The Calumet City scenes in the film were filmed in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], however. [[Lily Tomlin]]'s prim but assertive housewife/spokesperson "Mrs. Judith Beasley" is said to be a resident of Calumet City. She said, "Hi. I am not an actress, but a real person like yourself."

Calumet City is also referenced by a number of popular music acts. [[The Black Crowes]] included a video of the Smiley Towers in their 1990 video for "Hard to Handle". A photograph of the "Dolton" smiley water tower is featured on the back of the [[Dead Kennedys]] album ''[[Plastic Surgery Disasters]]''. Rapper [[Twista]] has referenced Calumet City. [[Kanye West]]'s reference to Calumet in his 2005 song "[[Drive Slow]]" does not refer to Calumet City, but rather to [[Calumet High School (Chicago)|Calumet High School]], which was located in the [[South Side, Chicago|South Side]] of Chicago and not in Calumet City.

The Smiley Tower is also featured in the movie ''[[Natural Born Killers]]''; it is seen out the window of Mallory's family home (part of that movie was filmed in Hammond, Indiana). In the [[Nine Inch Nails]] music video on the director's cut of the same film, the Smiley Tower and Dolton Avenue/State Street is featured.

The founders of the [[Calumet Baking Powder Company]] adopted its brand name from the original Native American word for the land that became Calumet City. They later named one of thoroughbred horse racing's most famed and successful enterprises, [[Calumet Farm]], after the company.

In 2004, [[Alan Keyes]] purchased a raised ranch house in Calumet City to establish residency in Illinois so he could run for the U.S. Senate in place of [[Jack Ryan (politician)|Jack Ryan]] against [[Barack Obama]], although instead of residing in the house, he officially moved into an apartment elsewhere in town, on Garfield Avenue.

In 2010, pop music group [[Hanson (band)|Hanson]] remade the "Shake Your Tailfeather" scene from ''The Blues Brothers'' for the music video for their hit "Thinkin' 'Bout Somethin'" in [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], paying homage to Calumet City's Ray's Music Exchange, [[John Belushi]], and [[Ray Charles]].

[[Jean Shepherd]] (writer and narrator of the classic movie ''[[A Christmas Story]]'') in radio broadcasts from WOR radio, New York in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and in his PBS specials of the 1970s and 1980s, and his many books, often refers to it as Cal City or just Calumet. He grew up in nearby [[Hammond, Indiana]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.calumetcity.org Calumet City] ''official website''
 
{{Cook County, Illinois}}
{{Chicagoland}}
{{Geographic location
|Center=Calumet City
|East=[[Hammond, Illinois|Hammond]]
}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Calumet City, Illinois| ]]
[[Category:Chicago metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Cities in Illinois]]
[[Category:Cities in Cook County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1892]]
[[Category:1892 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Majority-minority cities and towns in Cook County, Illinois]]